Have your say on Residents' Parking Zones plans in Bath

People in Bath will be given further opportunity to have their say on proposals for seven new residents' parking zones (RPZs) in the city.

The proposed schemes were the subject of an informal consultation held in May. Since then, parking restrictions and, in some cases, boundaries have been revised to incorporate feedback from residents, local businesses and visitors to the areas.

The council is now asking for people’s views on the revised schemes during a formal traffic regulation (TRO) consultation and encouraging people to take part even if they have responded to the earlier consultations. The proposed residents' parking zones are:

• Beacon Hill Area

• Chelsea Road and Foxcombe Road area

• Entry Hill area

• Lyme Gardens and Charmouth Road area

• Sion Hill and Summerhill Road area

• St John’s Road, St Michael’s Road and Hungerford Road area

• Walcot, Snow Hill and Claremont Road area

Residents and businesses have until 20 October to review and comment on the revisions before a final decision is made later in the autumn on whether to adopt the schemes.

RPZs are being proposed by ward councillors to tackle anti-social driving and commuter parking in residential areas of Bath, and the health and safety risks associated with an increasing level of vehicle intrusion into these areas.

Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport, said: “We are asking residents in these seven areas to consider again the benefits associated with an RPZ in their area, and to review the changes we have made to the schemes in response to feedback."

“These include reducing the size of the zone in some areas, increasing the availability of dual-use bays, improvements to signage and road markings, and additional tailored amends to ensure the proposed schemes work for everyone in the community. Should there be any displacement of vehicles into neighbouring areas without zones, we can work with residents to develop their own RPZ.”

She added: “This second consultation, which is on the formal traffic regulation order (TRO) needed to legally implement and enforce the zone, is an important next step. We are asking residents living or regularly visiting these areas to review the amends, attend an event, and tell us whether they support the proposal or not. And we are reminding people to do this regardless of whether they responded to the earlier consultation. All details, including the outcomes of the earlier consultations, are available on the council’s website, at local libraries or via Council Connect.”

The cost of permits is a key consideration and the council is  reminding residents to check permit costs for individual vehicles on its website.

Under new RPZ policy, the annual permit can vary depending on your vehicle’s emissions but, as a guide, a permit for a 10-year-old petrol or diesel family car would normally cost in the range of £110 to £140 per year. Permits for smaller cars would typically be less. Permits can be purchased in durations of 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.

The councils’ approach to introducing RPZs supports wider Journey to Net Zero ambitions that aim to reduce car use in the city, helping to tackle carbon emissions and air pollution, and improve the health, safety and environment of communities. These seven proposals arose from several public consultations on the council’s Liveable Neighbourhoods programme.

A decision on a proposed Oldfield Park and Moorland Road residents parking zone, which was consulted on earlier this year, will be taken at the same time as the decision on the seven RPZs at the end of the TRO consultation.

To view details of the seven proposals and have a say, go to www.bathnes.gov.uk/rpztroconsultations, or visit your local library or one-stop-shop. Those unable to access either the internet or a local library can call Council Connect on +44 (0)1225 39 40 41. 

Completed surveys must be received by 5pm on Thursday 20 October 2022. 

Details of local drop-in events are as follows:

• Walcot, Snow Hill and Claremont Road area, Tuesday 4 October, 4-8pm, Riverside Youth Centre, York Mews, BA1 6AE 

• Entry Hill area: Wednesday 5 October, 4-8pm at St Luke’s Church, Hatfield Rd, BA2 2BD

• Chelsea Road and Foxcombe Road area: Tuesday 11 October, 4-8pm at Weston Methodist Church, Newbridge Hill, BA1 3PW

• Lyme Gardens and Charmouth Road area: Tuesday 11 October, 4-8pm at Weston Methodist Church, Newbridge Hill, BA1 3PW (Joint with Chelsea Road)

• St John’s Road, St Michael’s Road and Hungerford Road area: Wednesday 12 October, 4-8pm, Grace Church, St Johns Church, Upper Bristol Road, BA1 3DD

• Sion Hill and Summerhill Road area: Thursday 13 October, 4-8pm, Bath Spa University, Sion Hill, BA1 5SF

• Beacon Hill Area: Friday 14 October, 4-8pm at St Stephens Church, Lansdown Rd, BA1 5SX.